Eastern Washington University has hired Dan Monson, the former coach who guided Long Beach State to the NCAA tournament amid the news of his impending dismissal. Monson, with coaching stints at Gonzaga and Minnesota, will lead an Eagles program that clinched the last two Big Sky Conference regular-season titles.

By the Numbers
  • 27 years as a head coach
  • 445 wins
  • 9 regular-season or conference titles
  • 4 trips to March Madness
Yes, But

Long Beach State's decision to let go of Monson, despite the NCAA tournament bid, was seen as a controversial move aiming to turn the team's fortunes around.

State of Play
  • Monson replaces David Riley at Eastern Washington after Riley took the head coach position at Washington State.
  • Monson's unexpected departure from Long Beach State followed the team securing an NCAA tourney bid.
What's Next

With an illustrious coaching career, Monson brings a wealth of experience to Eastern Washington, poised to continue the success of the Eagles in the Big Sky Conference.

Bottom Line

Monson's hiring at Eastern Washington after his remarkable run with Long Beach State underscores the volatile nature of coaching in collegiate sports, where achievements are sometimes overshadowed by organizational decisions.